Whakatu reaches key milestones

The Whakatu Arterial Link project is about to achieve some major milestones with work on State Highway 2 (SH2) due to be finished in about three weeks and the completion of the Karamu Stream diversion.

The intersection at Pilcher Road/SH2 is about to be closed, with Pilcher Road being reconstructed to link up to the new SH2 roundabout. The reconstruction work on Pilcher Road includes widening of the road and drainage improvements.

To enable work to be completed as quickly as possible, the Pilcher Road/Mangateretere Road intersection will be closed from Monday 18 September, with traffic being diverted around Lawn Road and Napier Road.
This detour will be in effect for about 10 weeks (weather dependent) until the new Pilcher Road access to the SH2 roundabout can be opened.

The Karamu Stream has now been diverted with water flowing through. This is a major achievement for the project along with the old channel being filled in to form Hawea Park, a Hawke’s Bay Regional Council project, said Hastings District councillor and deputy chairman of the works and services committee Rod Heaps.

“Work across the main route which heads across the fields through Whakatu to Pakowhai Road has resumed and the construction of the bridge over the Karamu Stream at the Pakowhai Road end of the project is going to plan. The piles are all place with the bridge beams due to be placed in about two weeks.

“Traffic restrictions are still in place around the new SH2 roundabout. We ask that everyone takes extra care around the area and plans their journey accordingly.

“We thank the driving public and affected residents for their patience while we complete this very important project,” said Mr Heaps. “It will streamline the delivery of our produce to the processing hub of our district and contribute to safety on our roads, particularly by getting trucks off the residential streets of Whakatu.”

The entire project is expected to be completed by late 2018, weather depending.